Rail-lifting device



lJuly 11, 1944.

K. ALLDERIGE RAIL-LIFTING DEVICE Filed oct. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J'llly 11, 1944- K. ALLDERIGE v 42,353,381

RALLIFTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 11, 1944 Ullvlfrel)v vSTATES., PATENT orifice RAI-L-LIFTING DEVICE `Kenneth Allderge, West Haven, Conn., assignor to The Allderge l Corporation, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Appiication october 14, 1942, serialv No. 461,343

' 1o claims. (o1. 2521-121)` This invention relates to a rail-lifting or pulling device,..a.ndmore especially to a device particularly designed .for vraising rails of a trolley track, for example, which have been embedded in the pavement. i

In` recent years manyrtrolley tracks have been abandoned, and it is desirableV for several reasons tot remove the rails `from the pavement in which the` tracks have been laid. rIihis work has been attended with considerable expense of labor, in that it is usually vdone principally by hand, as the pavement broken up beside the rail, the spikes which hold the rails to the ties below the pavement removed, and' then the rail lifted from the ties. rlhis has been a laborious operation, not y only from the standpoint oftime, but aiso from the standpoint Iof number of men necessary, and the consequent expense of the labor involved.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide a machine-for doing this work, the device being in the form of a trailerwhich may be pulled by a heavy-duty truck or tractor, which in the case of a dump truck chassis, for example, is usually provided with a fluid pump. I make use of this fluid pump in providing power for hydraulic jacks used uponk my device, which jacks in turn furnish the power for raising the rails from the roadbed or pavement. I have found it particularly desirable to use a hydraulic jack for .y

this operation, for sincev liquid is practically noncompressible there will be no tendency for the apparatus to jump or spring upwardly if the rail suddenly gives way during the raising operation, as is often the case when the pavement breaks. The tractor, as will Vbe apparent from the description hereinafter, not only furnishes the DOWGI fOI the lifting `jacks, but also serves to draw the machine forwardly from one position to another as the rail is progressively lifted, so.

that the elevating mechanism operated by the jacks will be advanced to operate on progressively advanced points along the rail.

The device comprises a main frame which is drawn along the roadway, this frame having mounted thereon an elevating frame `operated by the hydraulic jacks, from which elevating frame or auxiliary frame is suspended a shoe designed to travel below the rail when the machine is advanced, and to eiTect the raising of the rail when the auxiliary frame is elevated.

One object of the present invention is to provide a rail-lifting device of relatively simple 'construction, which will serve to lift a rail from turbing the pavement except along the area closely adjacent to the rail itself.`

A. vstill further object of the invention isr the provision of amil-lifting device which will speedily raise a rail from the `pavement and which can be drawn along the rail by the power of an ordinary truck, the device being so constructed that it will be supported above the roadway during its advancing movement.

.A still further object. of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive device having a. pair1 of frame members designed to be normally held above theY pavement or roadway, but..\vhich during the. lifting operation will be forfed again-st the pavement oneach side of the rail to hold the pavement in place during the lifting operation. y l

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

in t -e accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a rail-lifting device. embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top` plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional View on line 3--3 of Fig. '2, with thel elevating or auxiliary frame in raised position;

Fig. 'i is a sectional view of the forward portion of the device showing its connection with the truck by which it is operated;

"Fig, 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the rear end of the device;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational-view of the device;

Fig. 'i sectional view on line 'i1-' of Fig. 1; and Y Fig. S is a detail. View ofthe shoe suspended from the elevating 'or auxil'iaryframe.

To illustrate'apreferred embodiment of my invention, I' have shown a main frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending beams or frame members l0' and Yl`l, these members being tied together to prevent` lateral separation by transverse members |2 and I3. AThese beams are shown as of `I shape, and the lower flanges may be turned upwardly adjacent their forward ends, as shown at 1'4, to facilitate'travel of the device over a roadway;

' These beams are supported at their forward ends from the chassis of a truck or tractor designated diagrammaticaly at f5, and as shown in Fig. 4, havingan axle |16 and rear wheels Il. Upon* the chassis of the device is a pump i3 which may bel operated from the motor, and

employed to operate the hydraulic'jacks used they pavement rapidly'and efficiently without dis- 55 `in the elevating mechanism, as will be hereinoted at 24 to one of the longitudinal beams IIJv or I I, and the beams are supported from the springs by means of short bolts or rods 25 secured to the beams and resting upon the upper surfaces of the springs. The rods 25 are held between the beams themselves and plates 26 secured to the edges of the upper and lower anges of each beam. Plates 21 likewise support the outer ends of the pivot bolts 24 to which the rear ends of the springs are secured. Extending transversely from one side to the other of` the truck frame is a rod 28 and a beam29. Upon the rod 28 is supported a hanger 30 by means of a roller 3|, whereby the hanger may travel along the rod transversely of the truck. To the hanger is secured a stirrup 32 having thereon rollers 33 traveling on the lower flange of the'beam 29. Suspended from the stirrup 32 is a plate 35 having a slot 36 therein through which the tongue or hitch member 2l extends. It will be apparent that when the front end of the hitch member 2l pivots about the bolt I9, the rear end of this member may move transversely of the truck and be guided in its movements by the connection of the hanger 39 and stirrup 32 to the rod 28 and beam 29. This connection will be useful whenever the device is not traveling in a straightI line.

As has been explained, the forward end of the device is supported upon the springs 23, and

. will normally be held a short distance above the pavement to provide for easy forward travel. Likewise, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and Fig. 5. the rear end of the device will also be spring supported above the pavement. To this end a rear truck is provided consisting of wheels 31 and an axle 38. To this axle are secured a pair nf forwardly extending and downwardly innlined members 39, each of which is pivoted to a bolt 49 secured to vone of the longitudinally extending beams I Il or II. These bolts are held between the web of the beams themselves and plates 4I secured to the outer edges of the upper and lower angesY of the beams.

Likewise pivoted to each of the bolts 49 is the forward end of a spring 42, the rear end of which is pivota-lly supported by the axle 38 by means of the spring shackleV 43 and plate 44 .secured to the axle. It will be understood that there will be one of these springs upon each of the beams I8 and II, and that likewise leach of these beams is provided with a bolt 45 which rests on the upper surface of the corresponding spring and serves to hold the rear end of the beam above the level of the pavement, as shown, for example. in Fig.V 5.Y It will be seen, therefore, that the forward and rear' ends of the devices are spring supported above the pavement. but that, upon suicient pressure or .weight being applied to the frame, the resistance of the springs will be sufciently overcome to permit Y the lower flanges of the beams I0 and lI to rest upon the pavement. This occurs vduring a raillifting operation, as shown in Fig. 3. It may also be stated that each of the bolts 45 is supported by the web portion of one of the beams at one end, and at the other end by a plate 4G secured at the outer face of the beam.

Pivoted to the rod I3 is an elevating or auxiliary frame comprising a pair of beams 48 and 49, which, as shown in Fig. 2, lie above the beams I0 and II, respectively. The front ends of these members are held in spaced relation by transverse rods 50 sothat theltWo-members form a rigid structure; Pivoted 'to the front end of each of the beams 48 and 49 is the piston 5I of a hydraulic jack 52, the lower end of which is pivoted at 53 on the lower flange of the corresponding beam Il) or II, it being understood that there is one of these jacks for each of the .pended from the beams 48 and^49, and will be ydraulic jacks l52.

elevating beams 48 and 49. In order to permit the bodies of the jacks 52 to rest upon the lower flanges of the beams I0 and II, the webs of the rlatter are cut away, 'as shown at 53a, and across the opening thus made is secured a plate 54 so that the beams will withstand a longitudinal pull without danger of breaking. The upper and lower ends of the jacks 52 are suitably connected lby the tubes 55 and 56 to the pumpl, whereby uid under pressure may be introduced below the piston to raise the latter and elevate the auxiliary frame. The introduction of fluid to the jacks lis controlled by avalve 51.

A pair of beams 58 and 59 aresecured transversely across and at the lower edges of the beams 48 and 49 by means of plates 60 and tie rods- 6I. Welded to the upper surface of these beams are a pair of rods 82, as shown more particularly in Fig. '1, upon which rods is supported a plate 63. A threaded member B4 passes through this plate' and is secured in place by means of the nut above the plate. The lower end of this threaded member is provided with an eye 86 to which is secured a link 61 carrying a hook 68 from which is suspended a shoe 69. As shown in Fig. 8, to each side of thisshoe is secured a link 18 to which are connected straps 1I, the straps being in turn connected by links 12to the hook 68.

It will be seen, therefore, that` this shoe is susraised and lowered with these. rbeams by the hy- 'I'his shoe is desired as shown in Figs. l and 3, for example, to be disposed below the base of the rail which is being lifted, and when the elevating frame is raised from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, the rail, which is designated by the numeral 13, will likewise be raised. The shoe '69 is rounded or sharpened at its front edge, as shown at 14, to render the front `edge less blunt. The links 'lll are connected with the tractor by means of chains 15, so vthat the shoe will bepositively drawn forward as the tractor advances, and not rely upon its connection with the frame for its forward movement.

At the rear end of the main frame of the device there may be provided a second truck consisting of a frame 18 supported by a pair of ground wheels 19, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the frame 1B being secured to the axle 38. This frame may 'carry a roller 89 upon which the free or raised end of the rail 13 is supported When the device is in operation. v

When it is desired to place my device in operation, the pavement is removed from a rail to a suicient extent to permit the shoe 89 being placed Yunderneath the rail. Liquid pressureis then introduced into the cylinders of the jacks 52 to raise the auxiliary frame, thus raising the end of the rail under which the shoe is disposed. When the Jacks 'have been raised to a desired extent, or to their Afull-extent, as shown in Fig. 3, the valve 51 is set to permit the lowering of the pistons YI under the weight of the auxiliary frame, so that the weight of `the rail will Vbe removed, 'or substantially removed, from the shoe t9. .At ,this time Ythe entire `trailer device `is vdrawn forward by means of the truck I5 as far as possible, .which feet a raising of the rail 13, as shown in Fig. 3,y

the rear end of `the rail at this time being supported upon the roller 80. The elevating frame is then again lowered and thedevice drawn forward `by means of the tractor I5 to bring the shoe below an advanced point in the rail for another lifting operation.

It will be apparent that as -soon as a suicient length of the rail has ybeen raised, the free end of the latter wil-l be supported upon the roller Sii.

as shown in Fig. 5. thus taking the weight of the rail and `any downward pull thereon from the axle 38 and the main frame. It will also be understood that lwhen the jacks 52 are exerting ar lifting power upon the rail, as shown -in Fig. 3,v Y

the pressure upon lthe beams Ill and I I will overcome the springs at the front and rear of the den vice to a .suflicient extent to permit the beams L0 and Ii to settle upon the roadway, where they will lie upon each .side of the rail 13. as `shown a in Fig. 2. and thus during a lifting operation the bottom flanges of these beams hold the pavement in place while the rail is being pulled therefrom. so as to bring about a Aclean break between the pavement which is pulled up with therail and that which remains .in place. The spacing of the beams l) and II may. of course, be regulated as desired. depending upon the type of pavement surrounding the rails. When, however, the auxiliary or elevating frame is lowered, 71s shown in Figs. 1 `and 4, the beams I-.li and II will be relieved of this pressure and the springs will be sumcient to overcome the weight of the device and hold it spaced above the pavement, so that, upon a forward movement, it will be carried at its rear end upon the wheels'l. and atits front end by the rear portion of the tractor l5. By thus raising the frame o the device out of contact with the roadway during its forward movement, the amount of tractive effort required is greatly reduced, and the device may be readily moved forwardly.

As shown in Fig. 4, the connection of the ferr Ward end of the device with the tractor is such that, while the member 2l may swing pivotally, as when the device is making a turn, lateral movement of the rear end of the member 2i will be controlled by the member sliding transversely with respect to the tractor frame, as has been explained above.

It will also be understood that the connection of the shoe 59 with the elevating frame may be adjusted by moving the beams -58 and 59 after the bolts BI have been removed or loosened so as to get any desired leverage needed tov perform the lifting operation. The leverage which 1s required or which is expedient to use may vary considerably depending upon the type of pavement in which the rails have been laid. l

It will be obvious that if the trailer device 1s employed with a truck not equipped with a pump,

such a pump and a gasoline engine to operate it may .be Ymounted upon'the fbeams I0 and Il and connected wti-h the `jacks to operate the latter;

While I have 'shown' and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not t'o be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modication and variation Within the spirit `of the invention and Within the scope of the claims;

AWhat I claim is:

l. A `device for raising rails from pavementor the likegsaid device having a main frame comprising apair of spaced longitudinally extending beams disposed one on each side of arail, an elevating frame mounted on said beams, means connecting said elevating frame to the rail including a 'shoe suspended from said elevating frame fand disposed 'below the rail, means for raising said last-named frame to raise the shoe, and means connected to said main framefor drawing it forwardly, said means also being con-v nected lindependently to said shoe to advance the latter.

2. A device for raising rails from pavement or the like, comprising a trailer frame having supn porting Wheels at one end thereof, means for supporting said frame from said wheels to permitJ lowering of the frame against the pavement, a tractor hitching member at the front end of said frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on each side thereof, springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor bitching member, an auxiliary frame pivoted adjacent one end to said `trailer frame, means for connecting said auxiliary frame to the rail. means for raising the other end of said auxiliary frame to raise the rail, a tractor, and means supporting said hitching member from the rear portion. of the tractor.

3. A. device 'for raising rails from pavement or the like, comprising a trailer frame having supporting wheels at-one end thereof, means for supporting said frame from said wheels to permit lowering of the frame against the pavement, a tractor bitching member at the front end of said frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on each side thereofA springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor bitching membei', an auxiliary frame pivoted adjacent one end to said main frame. means for connecting said auxiliary frame to the rail, means for raising the other end of said auxiliary frame to raise the rail, said connecting means comprising a shoe suspended from the auxiliary frame and disposed beneath the rail, and draft means connected to said shoe 'by which it may be drawn forwardly beneath the rail.

4. A device for raising rails from pavement or the like, comprising a trailer frame having supporting wheels at the rear end thereof, spring means for supporting said frame from said wheels to permit lowering of the frame against the pavement, a tractor bitching member at the front end of said frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on each side thereof, springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor hitching member, an auxiliary frame pivoted adjacent one end t0 said main frame, means for connecting said auxiliary frame to the rail, and means for raising the other end of said auxiliary the like, comprising a :trailer frame having supporting wheels at the rear end thereof, means for supporting said frame from said wheels to permit lowering of the frame against the pavement, a tractor hitching member at the front end of said frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on each side thereof, springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor hitching member, an auxiliary frame pivoted'adjacent one end to said main frame, means for connecting said auxiliary frame to the rail, means for raising the other end of said auxiliary frame to raise the rail, a tractor, and means connecting said hitch to the tractor for movement laterally of the direction of travel.

6. A device for raising rails from pavement or the like, comprising a trailer frame having supporting wheels at one end thereof, means for supporting said frame from said wheels to permit lowering of the frame against the pavement, a tractor h itching member at the front; end of said frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on each side thereof, springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor hitching member, an auxiliary frame pivoted adjacent one end to said main frame for movement in a vertical direction, a shoe suspended from said auxiliary frame and adapted for disposal beneath the rail, means for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame to raise the shoe, a draft device connected to said shoe, and a tractor connected to said bitching member-and draft device.

7. A device for raising rails from pavement or the like, comprising a trailerrframe having supporting wheels at one Vend thereof, means for supporting said frame from said wheels to pere mit lowering of the ,frame against the pavement,V a tractor hitching member at the front end of said frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on eachrside thereof, springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor hitching member, an auxiliary frame pivoted adjacent one end to said main frame for raising and lowering movements, a shoe suspended from said auxiliary frame and adapted for disposal beneath the rail, means for raising and lowering said auxiliary frame to raise the shoe, a draft device connected to said shoe, a tractor connected to said hitching member and draft device, said raising and lowering means comprising a hydraulic jack below the free end of said auxiliary frame, and a pressure source on the tractor connected to said jack,

8. In a device of the class described, a tractor, a trailer mechanism connected to the tractor andy supported thereby at its forward end, a wheel support at the rear end of said mechanism, springs supporting the ends of said mechanism from the tractor and wheel support respectively, said mechanism'comprising a pair of spaced lon;Y gitudinal beams adapted to bear on the pavement on each side of a rail, an element supported on said beams for raising and lowering movement, a shoe suspended from said element and adapted for disposal beneath the rail, means for elevating said element to raise the shoe, and a draft device connecting said shoe to the tractor to advance the shoe and trailer when the tractor advances.

9. A device for raising rails from pavement or the like, said device having a main frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending beams disposed one on each side of a rail, an auxiliary frame pivoted to the main frame, mea-ns for raising the free end of the auxiliary frame; a shoe suspended from said auxiliary frame be# tween the pivot and said end and adapted to be disposed below the rail, means for adjusting the point of suspension of said shoe with respect to the pivot of said auxiliary frame, supporting means at the front and rear ends of said frame and spring means supporting said beams from said supporting means to permit the beams to contact the pavement during a rail-raising op eration.

10. A device for raising rails from pavement or the like, comprising a trailer frame having supporting wheels at the rear end thereof, means for supporting said frame from said wheels to permit lowering of the frame against the pavement, a tractor hitching member at the front end r of Vsaid frame, said frame comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending members adapted'to straddle a rail and bear on the pavement on eachside thereof, springs supporting the front end of the frame from the tractor hitching member, an auxiliary frame pivoted adjacent one end to said main frame, means for connecting said auxiliary frame to the rail, means for raising the other end of said auxiliary frame to raise the rail, a second wheel support at the rear end of said trailer frame, and means on said lastnamed support upon which the rail is adapted to rest as the device progresses.

KENNETH ALLDERIGE. 

